Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has completed his team-prescribed anger management therapy and has reported to the club’s spring training complex in Arizona to begin working toward a return to the big leagues.

It’s about time, really. Big Z was suspended indefinitely by the Cubs close to three weeks ago and he has at least another two weeks of rehab ahead.

Soon after he was placed on the restricted list, the Cubs announced that Zambrano would be returning as a reliever and not a starter, so that may speed things up. But he will almost certainly need to pitch in a few minor league games to get his endurance and mechanics in check.

The 29-year-old right-hander had a 5.66 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP in 22 outings (nine starts) before his June 25 dugout tirade. He is under contract with the Cubs through 2013.

Knowing Z’s history, this can’t really be the first time he’s had anger management therapy, can it? Do the cubs think everything is going to be ok now? I see him being released by the end of the year, or traded, but I can’t imagine anyone wants him.

Zambrano is the best pitcher the Cubs have. His overwhelming desire to win is at odds with the Cubs culture, where appearances are more important than winning. Dave Duncan of the Cardinals would make Z a contender for the Cy Young this year if the Cardinals had him for the second half. Atlanta would lock up the division by Sept 1 if they had him. They is nothing wrong with arm, just a few problems with his mechanics. A good organization would focus on getting his mechanics right. The Cubs instead focus on his head. And we all saw how well that approach worked with Milton.

I doubt if Carlos’ head has quite as many toothless gears and uncottered flywheels in it as Milton’s does. But whatever his problem – and it might well be that prion-vectored neurological disease Die vloek van der geitbock that seems to infect anyone who inhabits the Cubs’ locker room for more than a few hours at a time – if it turns out that the anger management program they put him through actually works, I’m going to send them my pet snapping turtle for a couple of weeks. Might save me a finger some day.